Cooling sleeve for cooling a component to be cooled of a radiation generating device, and radiation generating device

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling shell for cooling a component of a radiation generating device, wherein the cooling shell has at least one cooling channel for guiding a coolant, wherein at least one flow control device is provided on or in the at least one cooling channel or on or in at least one of the cooling channels, by means of which the flow direction of the coolant flowing through the respective cooling channel can be changed over time.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling jacket for cooling a component of a radiation generating device. The invention also relates to a radiation generating device.

[0002] In the prior art, target holders or X-ray tubes are known in connection with particle accelerators, especially linear accelerators, which are used to generate X-rays. These typically extend along a longitudinal axis and have a target at their tip or head section, for example, a tungsten target, onto which an electron beam is directed to generate X-rays. X-ray tubes can heat up considerably during use and therefore require effective cooling. The head section of the X-ray tube with the target represents the point of greatest heat generation and therefore requires particularly thorough cooling.

[0003] Cooling is typically achieved using a cooling jacket positioned close to, and especially around, the X-ray tube. This jacket comprises one or more cooling channels or bowls to circulate a coolant, such as water or a water-glycol mixture, along the X-ray tube. The cooling channels or bowls define the flow direction along which the coolant moves. This flow direction, or the resulting flow path of the coolant, is usually steady. This means that the flow direction does not change over time, and the coolant flows continuously along the same path through the cooling jacket.

[0004] Steady-state coolant flows, meaning those that remain constant over time, have the disadvantage that local low-pressure areas can develop. In these areas, the coolant boils at a lower temperature than in the surrounding areas due to the reduced pressure, and therefore evaporates sooner, thus reducing cooling capacity. Furthermore, additives in the coolant can form deposits that reduce heat transfer and impair cooling performance.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved concept for a cooling shell for cooling a component of a radiation generating device, which in particular enables better cooling of the component to be cooled.

[0006] The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention in a cooling shell of the type mentioned at the outset by the fact that the cooling shell has at least one cooling channel for guiding a coolant, wherein at least one flow control device is provided on or in the at least one cooling channel or on or in at least one of the cooling channels, by means of which a flow direction of the coolant flowing through the respective cooling channel can be changed over time.

[0007] The cooling jacket according to the invention is thus characterized in that at least one flow control device for changing the flow of coolant through the respective cooling channel is provided in or on the cooling channel or in or on at least one of the cooling channels. If several cooling channels are provided, it is conceivable that a flow control device is provided in or on all or only some of the cooling channels. The cooling jacket can also have only one cooling channel in or on which the at least one flow control device is provided.

[0008] The flow control device prevents a steady flow of coolant from forming in the respective cooling channel. Instead, it advantageously ensures that the flow direction of the coolant in the respective cooling channel changes over time, particularly permanently and / or periodically, so that no or at least significantly fewer local areas of negative pressure are created. This also significantly improves the cooling effect achieved by the cooling jacket.

[0009] The at least one flow control device can be arranged within the cooling channel. Alternatively, it can be located outside the cooling channel, with the cooling channel connecting, in particular, directly downstream of the flow control device. The flow control device can be provided as a single unit that can be mounted in the cooling jacket. It can also be an integral part of the cooling jacket. For example, the cooling jacket can be a single component into which the at least one flow control device is permanently integrated.

[0010] The at least one flow control device is preferably designed such that it has no moving parts or is free of moving parts, thus reducing the probability of failure and simplifying maintenance. In principle, active or passive fluidic oscillators, sometimes also referred to as pendulum nozzles, are suitable as flow control devices, in particular vortex throttles and vortex valves.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the flow control device, or at least one of the flow control devices, is or comprises a Coanda nozzle. The Coanda nozzle is based on the Coanda effect as its physical operating principle. This effect causes a fluid flow near a curved surface to move along or conform to that surface, thereby changing the flow direction. In the Coanda nozzle, the coolant flowing through it is divided, and the Coanda nozzle has a suitable internal geometry, in particular having at least one curved surface, such that a change in the direction in which the coolant exits the nozzle is caused over time. Coanda nozzles are also frequently referred to as fluidic oscillators or pendulum nozzles.Inside the Coanda nozzle, a self-excited oscillation develops without the use of any moving parts. Due to the Coanda effect, a jet flowing through the nozzle alternately impinges on several of its inner walls, and this periodic process causes a periodic oscillation of the flow pattern.

[0012] Unlike typical nozzles, the Coanda nozzle does not need to taper downstream. Its cross-section can remain constant or even increase downstream. It is conceivable that at least one flow control device, or individual flow control devices, could each incorporate one or more Coanda nozzles, particularly those arranged or connected in series downstream. This allows for even more precise control of the coolant flow pattern over time. In addition to the one or more Coanda nozzles, each flow control device can also include further devices for modifying the coolant flow direction over time.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one flow control device comprises an oscillation channel geometrically configured such that the flow direction of the coolant flowing through the oscillation channel is changed over time. The at least one flow control device also includes a bypass channel by means of which a portion of the coolant passing through the flow control device is diverted around the oscillation channel. The oscillation channel is thus configured such that its geometry causes a temporal change in the flow pattern of the coolant, particularly due to the Coanda effect just described. It therefore causes the actual change in flow. Preferably, it is configured to generate an oscillating flow pattern. This means that the flow direction of the coolant moves back and forth over time, particularly uniformly.By means of the bypass channel, which is designed such that it does not alter the flow pattern of the coolant flow passing through it, or alters it less than the oscillation channel, the pressure loss occurring at the flow control device can be effectively reduced. In this embodiment, the coolant flow is split upstream of the oscillation channel and the bypass channel, and then recombined downstream of both.

[0014] In this configuration of the flow control device, the coolant flow passing through it is divided into the oscillation channel and the bypass channel, so that not the entire coolant flow is directed through the oscillation channel. In principle, the coolant can be divided arbitrarily between the bypass channel and the oscillation channel; however, it is advantageously provided that the smallest possible portion of the coolant flow, which nevertheless causes a sufficiently strong temporal variation in the coolant flow pattern, flows through the oscillation channel. Preferably, the division of the coolant flow into the bypass channel and the oscillation channel is such that, on the one hand, a sufficiently high variability in the flow pattern is generated, and on the other hand, the pressure drop across the flow control device is minimized.

[0015] The distribution of the coolant can vary depending on the application and the specific design of the cooling jacket. If the cooling jacket has several flow control devices, the distribution of the coolant flow entering each flow control device between the respective oscillation channel and the respective bypass channel can differ for several, in particular all, of the flow control devices, or it can be the same.

[0016] Regarding the design of the at least one flow control device, it can comprise an oscillation plate encompassing the oscillation channel and a bypass plate encompassing the bypass channel, with the oscillation plate and the bypass plate arranged stacked on top of each other. The at least one flow control device can therefore be simple and compact, in particular in a sandwich-like or stacked configuration. The plates can, in principle, be connected to each other in any configuration. Preferably, the channels in the respective plates are designed such that they are separated from each other to ensure separate fluid flow in both channels. The coolant can then be recombined downstream of both channels to form a single coolant flow. However, separate coolant flows exist in the oscillation and bypass channels.

[0017] In one possible embodiment, the at least one flow control device can have a separating plate arranged between the oscillation plate and the bypass plate, wherein the separating plate laterally delimits the oscillation channel and / or the bypass channel. The oscillation channel and / or the bypass channel can then be laterally open, being at least partially delimited or separated from each other by the cover plate sandwiched between the oscillation plate and the bypass plate. This allows for simple fabrication of the channels in the plates, for example by milling. It is conceivable that the separating plate has at least locally isolated openings through which the oscillation channel and the bypass channel are connected to each other, particularly at their respective ends downstream and / or upstream, i.e., along the flow direction.

[0018] Preferably, the at least one flow control device comprises a distributor plate with a distributor section for distributing the coolant flowing into the flow control device into the oscillation channel and the bypass channel, wherein the oscillation plate and the bypass plate are arranged on the distributor plate. The distributor plate enables the distribution of the coolant flow between the oscillation channel and the bypass channel. The distributor section of the distributor plate can be configured as at least one opening in the distributor plate that fluidically connects the oscillation channel and the bypass channel. The distributor section thus forms a branching point for the coolant flow, so that it is divided into a portion flowing through the oscillation channel and a portion flowing through the bypass channel.The distributor section can be connected to an inlet channel through which the cooling fluid flows into the flow control device. The distributor section then branches into a first channel leading to the oscillation channel and a second channel leading to the bypass channel. The distribution of the coolant flow, i.e., the ratio of the volumetric flow rates of the two partial flows, can be fixed by the geometry of the distributor plate or the distributor section, for example, based on the cross-sections of the first and second channels. Alternatively, the distribution of the coolant flow can be selectively adjusted by means of an actuator, whereby the first and / or the second channel can be opened and closed, particularly continuously, by means of the actuator. The compact and simple, sandwich-like design is retained even when the distributor plate is used.

[0019] Advantageously, one or at least one of the cooling channels can be provided with at least one flow control device branching downstream into at least two or more cooling channels. This allows a time-varying flow pattern to be generated in multiple cooling channels using only one flow control device. In principle, any cooling channel in or on which a flow control device is provided can branch downstream into any number of further cooling channels. If the cooling channels are of different lengths, they can also differ in diameter, ensuring that the pressure is essentially the same in all cooling channels and effectively preventing pressure differences between them.

[0020] The branching can occur directly at the downstream end of the respective flow control device, so that, in other words, it opens into or transitions into two or more cooling channels. This makes it possible, in particular, for the coolant to flow alternately from the flow control device into one or more of the cooling channels connected downstream of the flow control device. Flow control devices can also be provided within the branched cooling channels. In this way, a multi-stage nesting or chaining of flow control devices can be achieved, which also allows for the creation of very specific flow patterns of the coolant.

[0021] If at least one flow control device is prefabricated as a self-contained unit that is subsequently installed in the cooling jacket, it can be made of metal and / or ceramic, for example. It is conceivable that the channels and / or the opening(s) in the plates are produced by milling and / or drilling. In principle, however, the at least one flow control device can be made of any material that preferably exhibits high resistance to wear and sufficiently high thermal resistance.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the cooling shell extends along a longitudinal axis and has within it a receiving chamber, open at least on one side and also extending along the longitudinal axis, for receiving the component to be cooled. The cooling shell has several cooling channels, the cooling channels extending along the longitudinal axis and arranged radially outside and around the receiving chamber. The component to be cooled, for example an X-ray tube, can then be received within the receiving chamber, so that the cooling shell extends away from the longitudinal axis around the component to be cooled, thus enclosing it. Advantageously, the cooling channels are arranged side by side around the receiving chamber in the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the outer contour of the receiving chamber.In other words, the cooling channels are preferably arranged in a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, particularly alternately, along a circumferential line, the circumferential line extending parallel and / or equidistant to an outer contour of the receiving space around the longitudinal axis. Depending in particular on the specific cross-sectional shape of the receiving space perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the circumferential line can be circular, oval, or polygonal, particularly rectangular. Each cooling channel therefore does not extend over the entire or nearly the entire outer contour of the receiving space, but only over a respective sub-area of ​​the outer contour.

[0023] On the one hand, the cooling channels arranged side-by-side around the receiving chamber allow the coolant to be directed particularly effectively around the component to be cooled, resulting in exceptionally good cooling performance. Furthermore, this also enables a particularly compact design of the cooling shell.

[0024] Typically, known cooling shells have a nested structure. This means that the cooling shell for coolant conveyance has several cooling shells arranged at different distances or radii around the receiving space, essentially nested within one another. In other words, a smallest, inner cooling shell is provided that encloses the receiving space and is itself enclosed by one or more larger, outer cooling shells. However, such a nested structure occupies a considerable amount of installation space in a distance direction radially away from the longitudinal axis or perpendicular to an outer contour of the receiving space. This design, which is conceivable in principle according to the invention, is disadvantageous because components surrounding the cooling shell must also be made larger.Because the cooling channels around the receiving space are arranged side-by-side rather than radially nested in the present embodiment, a considerable saving in installation space can be achieved. While in the case of a nested design each cooling channel or cooling shell represents an independent annular space, in the cooling shell according to the present embodiment all cooling channels can be arranged within a common annular space extending around the receiving space.

[0025] The cooling envelope can therefore be made particularly thin or narrow around the receiving space. Consequently, less material and less installation space are required for the cooling envelope itself, as well as for any shielding that encloses or forms a layer of the cooling envelope. For example, if a circular cross-section of the cooling envelope is assumed, reducing its radius has a significant impact on the amount of material needed for the shielding, since the cylinder volume increases quadratically with the radius.

[0026] This is particularly advantageous when it comes to cooling an X-ray tube, the component requiring cooling. To prevent unwanted X-ray leakage, shielding is essential, either surrounding the cooling shell or forming part of the outer surface of the cooling shell. This shielding is typically made of tungsten and / or lead, making it very expensive and heavy. The more compact design of the cooling shell significantly reduces the required volume of the shielding, resulting in substantial savings in weight and material costs. This also positively impacts the cooling shell's durability.

[0027] A particularly preferred embodiment of the cooling jacket provides that the cooling channels overlap or are identical with respect to their extent along the distance direction to the receiving space. Two adjacent cooling channels thus preferably extend in the distance direction at least along a shared overlapping area, which in turn extends from a smaller inner distance to the receiving space to a larger outer distance. The adjacent cooling channels are then equidistant from the receiving space within the overlapping area. In other words, two adjacent cooling channels each extend in the distance direction from a smaller inner distance to the receiving space to a larger outer distance, wherein the outer distance of the first of the two cooling channels is greater than the inner distance and less than the outer distance of the second of the two cooling channels.The area around the recording space, extending from the inner distance of the second cooling channel to the outer distance of the first cooling channel, can be understood as the overlap area.

[0028] The distance direction can, for example, if the cross-section of the recording space is circular, run radially away from the longitudinal axis. Additionally or alternatively, it can run perpendicular to the outer surface of the recording space or perpendicular to the outer contour of the recording space. In particular, if the recording space has a rectangular cross-section, the distance direction can be a surface normal to one of the outer surfaces of the recording space.

[0029] The receiving chamber preferably has the geometric shape of a right circular cylinder or a right prism, particularly with a rectangle or a square as its base. A circular or oval base for the receiving chamber makes the cooling shell particularly easy to manufacture. Furthermore, a component to be cooled can then be inserted into the receiving chamber during assembly with particular ease, especially by sliding it in along its longitudinal axis. To ensure easy assembly, it is preferred that the cross-section of the receiving chamber in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis either remains constant along the longitudinal axis or that it tapers with increasing distance from the open end of the receiving chamber. Advantageously, the shape of the outer contour of the component to be cooled corresponds at least approximately, and preferably exactly, to an inner contour of the receiving chamber.The receiving space and the component to be cooled are therefore preferably opposites.

[0030] The cooling shell itself, and in particular its outer contour, can have the geometric shape of a right circular cylinder or a right prism, at least in a section along the longitudinal axis in which the receiving chamber and the cooling channels also extend, wherein the receiving chamber and the cooling channels can each be cavities. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cooling shell has the shape of a hollow cylinder, at least in a region along the longitudinal axis, wherein the receiving chamber forms the cavity and the central axis or axis of symmetry of the receiving chamber coincides with that of the cooling shell. In such a configuration, the cooling shell according to the invention can have an outer diameter of less than 30 mm or less than 25 mm. For example, it can have an outer diameter of 23 mm.

[0031] The cooling channels can extend in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis. This allows for a particularly simple design of the cooling shell as well as particularly simple manufacturing, for example by extrusion, especially since its cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis can be constant along the longitudinal axis.

[0032] Alternatively, the cooling channels, particularly in a helical shape, can extend around the longitudinal axis. The cooling channels can thus extend helically around the receiving space along the longitudinal axis. The helical or screw shape increases the mechanical strength of the cooling shell, thereby requiring less material to achieve sufficiently high mechanical stability. Furthermore, this shape allows for an increase in the effective length over which the cooling channels extend along the receiving space. Regarding the helical or screw shape, it can be provided that a central axis of the respective cooling channel is formed by the line of motion of a point that moves, particularly at a constant speed, along the circumference of a circle perpendicular to and centered on the longitudinal axis, while the circle itself moves at a constant speed along the longitudinal axis.

[0033] The cooling channels can be integrated radially outside the receiving space into the cooling shell. For this purpose, a radially inwardly projecting wall structure can be provided on the inner side of an outer shell of the cooling shell, forming at least one lateral boundary of at least one of the cooling channels, with the outer shell forming a radially outer boundary of the cooling channels. By means of the wall structure projecting radially from the outer shell toward the receiving space, one or more of the cooling channels can be laterally bounded, i.e., circumferentially around the receiving space. The wall structure can be designed such that it separates several cooling channels from one another circumferentially or along the perimeter around the receiving space. The wall structure can have at least one web-, wall-, or rib-like projection projecting inward from the outer shell, which forms the lateral boundary.

[0034] It is conceivable that at least one of the cooling channels is open radially on the inside if the component to be cooled is not located within the receiving space. This cooling channel then effectively extends into the receiving space. A radially inner boundary of one or at least some of the cooling channels can be formed, for example, by the component to be cooled and located within the receiving space. One or more of the cooling channels can then be radially inner bounded by the outer surface of the component to be cooled. For this to occur, the component to be cooled can, at least in some areas, fit snugly against the wall structure. The cooling shell and the component to be cooled can therefore be identical components, with the component to be cooled being positioned, particularly with a precise fit, within the receiving space.This has the advantage that the coolant of the radially open cooling channel(s) can flow directly along the surface of the component to be cooled, enabling particularly effective cooling. At least one sealant can be arranged between the wall structure and the component to be cooled to seal the respective cooling channel. The inwardly open wall structure can have at least one web-, wall-, or rib-like projection extending inwards from the outer shell, which, according to this embodiment, projects in particular perpendicularly from the outer shell.

[0035] The wall structure can form a radially inner boundary of at least one of the cooling channels. In this embodiment, it forms a structure that is at least partially closed radially inwards. In particular, the web-, wall-, or rib-like projections can converge radially inwards to also close off the respective cooling channel radially on the inside. The inwardly open wall structure can have several inwardly projecting, web-, wall-, or rib-like projections, which, according to this embodiment, are in particular angled or curved from the outer shell and converge accordingly on the radial inside. In cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the wall structure can meander or zigzag around the receiving space and, together with the outer shell, completely enclose one or more of the cooling channels around the receiving space.In a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, it can, for example, have a star-shaped structure, with the points of the star and the spaces between each pair of points forming the cooling channels. Two adjacent points of the star can then each define a cooling channel radially inwards and circumferentially on both sides. The outer radial boundary can be formed by the outer shell.

[0036] Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the wall structure extends from the outer shell to an inner shell of the cooling shell, with the inner shell forming the radially inner boundary of at least one of the cooling channels. One or more of the cooling channels are then radially bounded on the outside by the outer shell and radially bounded on the inside by the inner shell, and laterally bounded by the wall structure. In this embodiment, the cooling shell can thus have at least one first cooling channel and at least one second cooling channel, wherein the at least one first cooling channel, particularly in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is bounded by the outer shell and the wall structure, and optionally the inner shell, and wherein the at least one second cooling channel, particularly in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is bounded by the inner shell and the wall structure, and optionally the outer shell.The outer shell, the wall structure, and optionally the inner shell, can each be a component or a section of the cooling shell. They are preferably an integral part of the cooling shell, which is particularly a one-piece design.

[0037] In a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, all cooling channels can have the same cross-section. For example, the cooling channels could have a cross-section that is at least substantially rectangular or trapezoidal. They could, for instance, extend around the receiving space, particularly from the inner to the outer shell, bounded by two wall elements of the wall structure, at a certain angle increment. Alternatively, the cross-sections of the cooling channels in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis could differ. For example, at least one of the cooling channels could have a cross-section that tapers radially outwards, while at least one other cooling channel could have a cross-section that widens radially outwards.

[0038] All cooling channels can have the same length and cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so that no pressure differences arise between the cooling channels. If the cooling channels differ in length, the longer cooling channel(s) can have a larger cross-sectional area to compensate for the otherwise resulting pressure loss.

[0039] In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one supply channel and at least one discharge channel are provided as cooling channels, wherein the coolant can be supplied to the at least one supply channel via a supply interface, and wherein the at least one discharge channel is arranged downstream of the at least one supply channel, and wherein the coolant can be discharged from the at least one discharge channel via a discharge interface. The at least one supply channel allows the supply of coolant via the supply interface. Additionally, the at least one discharge channel allows the discharge of the heated coolant via the discharge interface. The coolant flow initially passes through the at least one supply channel and subsequently, i.e., downstream, through the at least one discharge channel.

[0040] Conveniently, the inlet and outlet interfaces can be arranged at a common axial end of the cooling jacket with respect to its longitudinal axis. This simplifies connecting the cooling channels to a coolant supply and outlet, as the integration of the cooling channels into a cooling circuit can occur at only one axial end of the cooling jacket. Preferably, the inlet and outlet interfaces are located at the axial end where the receiving chamber is open. The inlet and / or outlet interface can be a bore that branches downstream or upstream into one or more cooling channels. Alternatively, the inlet and / or outlet interface can comprise a corresponding bore.It is also conceivable that the feed interface and / or the discharge interface is an annular space, i.e., a ring-shaped recess at the axial end of the cooling shell, which connects several cooling channels, or includes one such channel.

[0041] At the axial end featuring the inlet and / or outlet interface, the cooling jacket can have a coupling structure, in particular a flange, for non-destructively detachable coupling of the cooling jacket to a support, in particular the radiation generating device. The cooling jacket can be mounted to the support via the flange by means of one or more fasteners, in particular screws. It is also conceivable that the coupling structure has a thread by means of which the cooling jacket can be screwed to the support.

[0042] At the inlet interface and / or at the outlet interface, the cooling jacket can each have at least one sealing element, in particular a sealing ring, which is designed to seal the cooling channels at the respective interface to the holder in a liquid-tight manner when the cooling jacket is mounted on the holder.

[0043] The at least one supply channel preferably opens into a coolant chamber, which, with respect to the longitudinal axis, is arranged at an axial end of the cooling shell, in particular opposite the supply and discharge interfaces, wherein the coolant can be discharged from the coolant chamber via the at least one discharge channel. The coolant chamber thus forms a connecting section between the at least one supply channel and the at least one discharge channel. The at least one supply channel and the at least one discharge channel can be fluidically connected via this chamber, in particular by reversing the flow direction of the coolant. This results in a coolant flow from the supply interface at the first axial end of the cooling shell through the at least one supply channel into the coolant chamber at the second axial end of the cooling shell.There, the flow direction of the coolant is reversed, and it flows through the at least one discharge channel in the opposite direction back to the first axial end of the cooling shell, where it can be discharged from the cooling shell through the discharge interface. Overall, an advantageous coolant flow can be achieved that requires a connection to a coolant supply and discharge system at only one axial end.

[0044] The coolant chamber can be axially connected to a head region of the receiving space. With respect to a state in which the component to be cooled is received in the receiving space, a head section of the component to be cooled, in particular a target section, is at least partially arranged in the head region, which forms an axial end of the receiving space. The head region can taper along the longitudinal axis, in particular hemispherically. The at least one feed channel can also taper towards the coolant chamber along its longitudinal axis and / or be curved towards the longitudinal axis in the area opening into the coolant chamber.

[0045] Preferably, the coolant chamber is designed such that the coolant flowing into the cooling chamber through the supply channel(s) flows specifically around or along the head section of the component held in the receiving chamber. This allows the head section to be cooled particularly effectively by the cooling fluid flowing into the cooling chamber.

[0046] The coolant chamber can extend across the entire cross-section of the cooling shell, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, possibly excluding the outer shell. Along the longitudinal axis, the coolant chamber can extend from the head region of the receiving space to the axial end of the cooling shell where it is closed. Radially, the coolant chamber can be bounded by the outer shell. Radially, the coolant chamber can be bounded, at least partially, by the inner shell. It is also conceivable that the axial end of the cooling shell, which binds the coolant chamber, is plate-shaped, particularly flat, or curved, particularly hemispherical.

[0047] Preferably, the at least one cooling channel in which the at least one flow control device is provided is the at least one supply channel or one of the supply channels. The at least one flow control device is particularly advantageous in the supply channels, as it allows the coolant flow to be influenced as it flows along the component to be cooled, especially its head section. Preferably, at least one flow control device is provided or arranged in or on several, and in particular all, supply channels of the cooling jacket.

[0048] In particular, if the supply channels, as described above, preferably run helically around the longitudinal axis, then a vortex- or tornado-like flow pattern of the coolant can be generated in the coolant chamber at the head section of the component to be cooled. Thus, a rotating flow pattern can be created, through which the head section of the component requiring increased cooling is surrounded and can therefore be cooled particularly effectively. In this context, at least one flow control device is particularly advantageous.The vortex- or tornado-like flow pattern resulting from the helical shape of the cooling channels can be modified over time by at least one flow control device, so that a precessing, vortex- or tornado-like flow pattern—in other words, a vortex with a moving center—is created at the head section of the component to be cooled. The head section then receives particularly good coolant flow, thus avoiding a stationary coolant flow.

[0049] To keep the design of the cooling jacket as simple as possible, at least one flow control device can preferably be provided, and in particular mounted, at the feed interface. It is also conceivable that at least one flow control device is arranged in at least one of the feed channels between the feed interface and the coolant chamber, in particular directly in front of the coolant chamber.

[0050] By appropriately selecting the lengths of the cooling channels between their respective flow control devices and the coolant chamber, different flow patterns can be generated within the coolant chamber. Specifically, a phase shift can be set for the coolant flows in the cooling channels, since the time required for the coolant to pass through a cooling channel increases with increasing channel length. Consequently, the wavefront or phase of the coolant flow differs at the end of each cooling channel.

[0051] In principle, the at least one supply channel and the at least one discharge channel can be arranged around the receiving chamber in any order. Preferably, however, the at least one supply channel and the at least one discharge channel are arranged alternately around the receiving chamber, particularly with regard to the star shape of the wall structure mentioned above. This results in a symmetrical distribution of the supply and discharge channels and consequently symmetrical cooling of the component to be cooled. A uniform distribution of the supply and discharge channels around the receiving chamber is also preferred. This allows for particularly precise adjustment of the ratio of the coolant flows in the supply and discharge channels.

[0052] Preferably, the cooling jacket comprises several inlet channels and several outlet channels arranged alternately around the receiving chamber. The cooling jacket can have an identical number of inlet and outlet channels. For example, it can comprise 6 to 14, preferably 8 to 10, inlet and outlet channels. Their cross-section can remain constant over their entire length or taper downstream.

[0053] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one supply channel, particularly in the radial direction, is arranged section by section closer to the receiving chamber than the at least one discharge channel. The coolant flowing through the supply channel is thus guided closer to the receiving chamber than the coolant flowing through the discharge channel. This allows for particularly effective cooling.

[0054] Advantageously, the at least one feed channel can taper outwards along the radial direction, while the at least one discharge channel widens outwards along the radial direction, which can be the case, in particular, with the aforementioned star-shaped wall structure. In other words, the at least one feed channel can taper away from the receiving space, while the at least one discharge channel widens away from the receiving space. The feed channels and the discharge channels thus each have at least a substantially triangular or trapezoidal shape, wherein a baseline of the triangular shape or the longer of the two baselines of the trapezoidal shape of the feed channels lies radially further inwards than a baseline of the triangular shape or the longer of the two baselines of the trapezoidal shape of the discharge channels.This offers the advantage that the at least one supply channel to the receiving chamber has a larger contact area than the at least one discharge channel, thus ensuring the most effective possible heat transfer from the receiving chamber to the still-cold coolant flowing through the supply channel. The cooling jacket preferably has several supply channels that extend together in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, at least approximately around the entire receiving chamber.

[0055] In one specific embodiment, the cooling jacket has several supply channels arranged side by side around the circumference of the receiving chamber, tapering radially outwards. In a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the supply channels form a star shape, with one of the discharge channels located between each pair of adjacent points of the star (i.e., between two supply channels). This discharge channel widens radially outwards. This ensures that the cold coolant in the supply channels is located close to the receiving chamber, while the heated coolant in the discharge channels is carried as far away from the receiving chamber as possible.

[0056] Preferably, the cooling sleeve is a component manufactured using additive manufacturing, particularly selective laser melting. Additive manufacturing is especially well-suited for realizing complexly shaped, for example, coiled, cooling channels and, in particular, for integrating them compactly into the cooling sleeve. At least one flow control device can also be integrated into the cooling sleeve as an integral component and manufactured together with the cooling sleeve in a single production process, saving time and costs while significantly simplifying handling. The entire cooling sleeve can therefore be manufactured as a single component, eliminating the need for joining processes.

[0057] Alternatively, the cooling shell can be constructed from several interconnected semi-finished products. For example, one semi-finished product, in particular comprising the receiving space, cooling channels, and coolant chamber, can be manufactured using additive manufacturing. In a further manufacturing process, another semi-finished product, a flange, can be produced, again using additive manufacturing or any other manufacturing process such as extrusion or machining. This flange must include the inlet and outlet interfaces, the coupling structure, and at least one flow control device. The components can then be joined together using conventional joining methods, such as welding, brazing (especially hard brazing), or pressing, to form the cooling shell.It is also conceivable that the at least one flow control device is manufactured separately, for example by milling, and installed in the cooling jacket, in particular its flange. For this purpose, the cooling jacket can include at least one, preferably symmetrical, receptacle, particularly at the feed interface, in which the at least one flow control device can be mounted, preferably by friction and / or positive locking, for example by screwing or pressing in.

[0058] To achieve the highest possible quality, and especially a smooth, inner surface in the cooling channels, they can be smoothed mechanically, electromechanically, and / or chemically. Methods such as etching, electrical discharge machining (EDM), or passing or pressing a carrier medium containing abrasive particles or a polishing paste through the channels are conceivable for this purpose.

[0059] The cooling jacket is preferably made of metal, preferably a metal that does not contain any X-ray-activated chemical elements. To shield against X-rays, the cooling jacket may have or be surrounded by a tungsten and / or lead-containing layer on its radial outer surface. The axial end, where the recording chamber is closed, may be open with respect to this shielding to allow the freest possible escape of X-rays from the recording chamber, particularly through the cooling chamber.

[0060] In addition to the cooling shell, the invention relates to a radiation-generating device comprising a component to be cooled and a cooling shell, wherein the cooling shell has at least one cooling channel for guiding a coolant, and wherein at least one flow control device is provided on or in the at least one cooling channel, or on or in at least one of the cooling channels, by means of which the flow direction of the coolant flowing through the respective cooling channel can be changed over time. The radiation-generating device according to the invention thus comprises a cooling shell as described above, as well as the component to be cooled, which may optionally be accommodated in its receiving space. All features, advantages, and aspects described in connection with the cooling shell according to the invention are equally applicable to the radiation-generating device according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0061] In principle, any component that can be accommodated within the cooling chamber of the device can be cooled using the cooling shell according to the invention. However, the cooling shell according to the invention demonstrates its advantages to a particularly high degree in the context of radiation generation, especially the generation of X-rays. Thanks to the cooling shell according to the invention, the radiation generation device can incorporate a very powerful X-ray tube as the component to be cooled, since the significantly improved cooling achieved by means of the at least one flow control device also allows for the effective cooling of components that are characterized by particularly high heat generation. Therefore, the radiation generation device can, for example, be a medical device for medical examination and / or treatment, especially for the focused irradiation of a patient's tissue.It is also conceivable that the radiation generating device is a device for examining, in particular X-raying, objects, for example containers.

[0062] The radiation generating device can further be characterized in that the cooling shell extends along the longitudinal axis and has inside it the receiving space or a receiving space that is open at least on one side and also extends along the longitudinal axis, in which the component to be cooled is received, wherein the cooling shell has several cooling channels for guiding a coolant and extending along the longitudinal axis, which are arranged radially outside the receiving space and distributed around the receiving space.

[0063] Furthermore, the radiation generating device can be characterized in that at least one supply channel and at least one discharge channel are provided as the cooling channels, wherein the coolant can be supplied to the at least one supply channel via a supply interface, wherein the at least one discharge channel is arranged downstream with respect to the at least one supply channel, wherein the coolant can be discharged from the at least one discharge channel via a discharge interface, wherein the at least one supply channel opens into a coolant chamber which, with respect to the longitudinal axis, is arranged at an axial end of the cooling shell, in particular opposite the supply interface and the discharge interface, wherein the coolant can be discharged from the coolant chamber via the at least one discharge channel.Particularly preferred is the provision that the component to be cooled has at one axial end a head section, which requires enhanced cooling compared to the remaining area of ​​the component, comprising in particular a target of the radiation generation device onto which an electron beam generated by the radiation generation device is directed, wherein the head section requiring enhanced cooling can be cooled at least primarily by the coolant flowing through the coolant chamber of the cooling jacket. The component to be cooled can therefore be an X-ray tube. Its head section, or its tip with the target, can be arranged at least partially within the coolant chamber to achieve a flow, particularly tangential, around the head section by the coolant, which allows for particularly effective cooling. This is especially beneficial due to the increased residence time of the coolant on the surface of the head section caused by the flow.

[0064] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one supply channel of the cooling jacket can taper at its end opening into the coolant chamber, and / or a nozzle can be arranged in the end of the supply channel opening into the coolant chamber, such that the coolant flowing from the supply channel into the coolant chamber is directed specifically to a section of the coolant chamber in which the head section requiring enhanced cooling is located. The coolant flowing into the coolant chamber can be directed to or directly onto the head section of the component to be cooled, which is located at least partially within the coolant chamber. Specifically, the coolant flowing into the coolant chamber can be guided along a surface of the head section of the component to be cooled, so that the coolant flows directly around it.

[0065] Further advantages and details of the invention are described below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. The latter are schematic representations of the principle and show: Fig. 1 Perspective, cutaway view of an embodiment of a cooling shell according to the invention, Fig. 2 Sectional view through the cooling shell of the Fig. 1 , where the intersection surface in Fig. 1 indicated by II - II, Fig. 3 Sectional view through the cooling shell of the Fig. 1 , where the intersection surface in Fig. 1 Figure 4, indicated by III - III, is a simplified sectional view of the Fig. 2 with a representation of the coolant flow direction, Fig. 5 perspective, cutaway view of a section of the flow control device of the Fig. 4 , Fig. 6Exploded view of the flow control device of the Figuren 4 und 5 , and Fig. 7 exploded view of an embodiment of a radiation generating device according to the invention comprising the cooling shell according to Fig. 1 .

[0066] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a cooling shell 1 according to the invention for cooling a component 2 to be cooled, wherein the cooling shell 1 extends along a longitudinal axis 3. Fig. 1 No component 2 requiring cooling is shown. However, the Fig. 2 and 3 Sectional views of cooling shell 1 of the Fig. 1 , in which a component 2 to be cooled, which in this case is an X-ray tube 12, is indicated by a dashed line. Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the cooling shell 1 along the longitudinal axis 3 and Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the cooling shell 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3.

[0067] The cooling shell 1 has an internal receiving chamber 4, open on one side and also extending along the longitudinal axis 3, for receiving the component 2 to be cooled. The component 2 can be inserted into the receiving chamber 4 through an opening 7 at the lower axial end 8 of the cooling shell. To cool the component 2, the cooling shell 1 includes several cooling channels 5 extending radially outside the receiving chamber 4 along the longitudinal axis 3, which are designed to carry a coolant. For easier orientation, a radial direction 6 is introduced, pointing perpendicularly away from the longitudinal axis 3. The design of the cooling shell 1 offers several advantages:

[0068] One advantage is the compact and space-saving design of the cooling shell 1. The receiving chamber 4 and the area of ​​the cooling shell 1 around the receiving chamber 4, or a tube 41 of the cooling shell 1, are cylindrical in this case, with the longitudinal axis 3 forming the central axis of the tube 41. As shown in particular Fig. 3 As shown, all cooling channels 5 are arranged around the intake chamber 4. In other words, all cooling channels 5 are in the Fig. 3 plane shown perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3 along a circumferential line 9 (in Fig. 3 (shown with dashed lines) are arranged side by side, with the circumferential line 9 running parallel to an outer contour of the receiving space 4 around the longitudinal axis 3. This eliminates the need for the otherwise frequently used "nesting" of the cooling channels 5 in the radial direction 6, where each cooling channel extends over a different radius range, although this configuration is fundamentally conceivable in the present invention. Here, all cooling channels 5 are arranged within a common annular space 10 surrounding the receiving space 4 (see Figure 1). Fig. 2 and 3 ). They overlap along a spacing direction, in this case the radial direction 6, and enable a significant saving of installation space in radial direction 6 as well as a compact design of the cooling shell 1.

[0069] If an X-ray tube is used as the component 2 to be cooled, a shield for its X-ray radiation can be provided around the cooling shell 1. Such a shield is usually made of lead or tungsten and is therefore heavy and expensive. The space savings in the radial direction 6 make it possible to reduce the size of such a shield while still achieving sufficient shielding effectiveness, thus saving weight and material costs. In this case, the cooling shell 1 has a comparatively small outer diameter of 23 mm in the area around the imaging chamber 4. In other designs, however, this diameter can also be between 20 mm and 35 mm.

[0070] Another advantage of the cooling shell 1 is the particularly effective cooling of the component 2 contained in the receiving chamber 4 and to be cooled. For this purpose, the cooling shell 1 has several cooling channels 5 in Fig. 1 Flow control devices 11 (not shown in detail) are used to change the flow direction of the coolant flowing through the respective cooling channel 5 over time. This allows flow patterns to be generated in which the flow directions oscillate over time. A steady coolant flow can thus be effectively avoided by means of the flow control devices 11. This is advantageous because a steady flow can result in local low-pressure areas that negatively affect cooling performance, as the coolant boils and evaporates more quickly there due to the reduced pressure. The flow control devices 11 change the coolant flow in the respective cooling channel 5 over time, so that no or significantly fewer low-pressure areas occur. The design and function of the flow control devices 11 will be described later with reference to the Figuren 4 - 6 described in more detail.

[0071] The improved cooling performance of the cooling shell 1 makes it possible to cool four high-performance components in the imaging chamber, which are characterized by high heat generation. The cooling shell 1 is therefore particularly suitable for cooling high-performance X-ray tubes 12, which, in particular, have a target 14 at their tip or head section 13 for radiation generation, which heats up considerably during operation.

[0072] The cooling shell 1 comprises two types of cooling channels 5: supply channels 15 and discharge channels 16. These differ in the direction of their coolant flow along the longitudinal axis 3. While the coolant in the supply channels 15 is guided from the lower axial end 8 to an upper axial end 17 of the cooling shell 1, in the discharge channels 16, which are arranged downstream of the supply channels 15, it is guided back to the lower axial end 8. The flow direction of the coolant is therefore opposite in the supply and discharge channels 15 and 16.

[0073] Coolant can be supplied to the supply channels 15 via a supply interface 18, while the coolant can be discharged from the discharge channels 16 via a discharge interface 19. Both the supply interface 18 and the discharge interface 19 are located at the lower axial end 8 of the cooling shell 1. In this design, they are formed by or integrated into a flange 20, from which the tube 41 extends and by means of which the cooling shell 1 can be mounted on a bracket. This allows both interfaces to be connected to a coolant supply or integrated into a cooling circuit particularly easily.

[0074] All cooling channels 5 are radially bounded on the outside by an outer shell 21 of the cooling shell 1. Furthermore, the cooling shell 1 has a wall structure 22 that projects radially inwards from the outer shell 21, i.e., towards the receiving space 4, and borders all cooling channels 5 laterally, i.e., along the circumferential line 9 (see Fig. 3 ), limited. While the wall structure 22 also radially limits the discharge channels 16 on the inside, so that their cross-section is completely enclosed by the outer shell 21 and the wall structure 22, the supply channels 15 are open radially on the inside, i.e., towards the receiving chamber 4. A radial inner limitation of the supply channels 15 only exists when the component 2 to be cooled is received in the receiving chamber 4. The limitation is then formed by an outer surface 23 of the component 2 to be cooled, which abuts the wall structure 22, in particular with a precise fit, and optionally at least one sealing element is provided for sealing the cooling channels 5. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the size of the receiving chamber 4 is selected such that the component 2 to be cooled can be received precisely in it, so that its outer surface 23 abuts the wall structure 22 exactly.This design allows the coolant, guided in the supply channels 15, to flow directly along the outer surface 23 of the component to be cooled, thus ensuring effective cooling. It is also conceivable that the supply channels 15 are not radially bounded on their inner side by the outer surface 23 of the component 2 to be cooled. For example, the cooling shell 1 can have an inner shell that, on the one hand, bounds the receiving space 4 and, on the other hand, radially bounds the supply channels 15 and / or the discharge channels 16 on their inner side. The wall structure 22 can then extend between the outer shell 21 and the inner shell.

[0075] In particular Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows that the supply channels 15 and the discharge channels 16 are arranged alternately around the receiving chamber 4. This enables symmetrical cooling of the component 2 contained in the receiving chamber 4 and to be cooled. In this design, the supply channels 15 taper outwards along the radial direction 6, while the discharge channels 16 widen outwards along the radial direction 6. The supply channels 15 thus form a kind of star-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3, with one of the return channels 16 arranged between each pair of adjacent points of this star. This geometry offers the advantage that the supply channels 15 have a particularly large contact area with the receiving chamber 4 for heat transfer. As a result, a particularly large portion of the outer surface 23 of the component 2 to be cooled can be directly exposed to the coolant, which is still cold in the supply channels 15.In contrast, the discharge channels 16 are completely separated from the receiving chamber 4 and widen radially outwards, so that the majority of the warm coolant flowing in the discharge channels 16 is as far away as possible from the receiving chamber 4. Overall, this results in a particularly advantageous coolant flow arrangement. It is also conceivable that the supply channels 15 and the discharge channels 16 are not arranged alternately around the receiving chamber 4.

[0076] How Fig. 2 As shown, the cooling shell 1 has a coolant chamber 24. This is located at the upper axial end 17 of the cooling shell 1, i.e., at the axial end opposite the inlet interface 18 and the outlet interface 19. It is bounded radially on the outside by the outer shell 21 and along the longitudinal axis 3 by a thin cover plate 25, which is particularly transparent to X-rays. The inlet channels 15 open into the coolant chamber 24 along the longitudinal axis 3, and the coolant can be discharged from the coolant chamber 24 via the outlet channels 16. The coolant chamber 24 thus connects the inlet channels 15 with the outlet channels 16, whereby the flow direction of the coolant, indicated by the arrows 26, reverses in the coolant chamber 24. During operation, the coolant flows through the feed interface 18 at the lower axial end 8 into the feed channels 15 and through these into the coolant chamber 24 at the upper axial end 17.There it is deflected in the opposite direction and returns via the discharge channels 16 to the lower axial end 8, where it can exit the cooling shell 1 again via the discharge interface 19.

[0077] The wall structure 22 projects further radially inwards in the area of ​​the coolant chamber 24, i.e., at the axial end of the receiving space 4 opposite the opening 7 of the receiving space 4, than in the rest of the area around the receiving space 4. In other words, the receiving space 4 tapers in a head region where the head section 13 of the component 2 to be cooled is located when it is received in the receiving space 4. In the head region, the wall structure 22 follows the surface shape of the head section 13, which is hemispherical in this case, so that the coolant is guided particularly well along the surface of the head section 13. This allows the head section 13 to be cooled very effectively. In the head region, the wall structure 22 is also designed such that the cross-section of the supply channels 15 tapers along the longitudinal axis 3, which increases the velocity of the coolant flow and enhances the cooling effect.

[0078] How Fig. 1 and 2As shown, the cooling channels 5 are helically wound around the longitudinal axis 3, which gives the tube 41 high mechanical stability, allowing the outer shell 21 and the wall structure 22 to have a particularly thin wall thickness. Furthermore, the helical supply channels 15 ensure that a vortex-like or swirling or tornado-like flow pattern of the coolant is created at the head section 13 of the component 2, which is housed in the receiving chamber 4 and is to be cooled, i.e., in the area of ​​the coolant chamber 24. This increases the cooling capacity, particularly due to the associated increase in the flow velocity of the coolant. The flow control devices 11 mentioned above also ensure that a stationary flow does not occur, but rather that the vortex-like flow or swirl moves, and in particular precesses, across the surface of the head section 13 of the component 2 to be cooled.

[0079] It is also conceivable that the cooling channels 5 run in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis 3. This ensures that the cross-section of the cooling shell 1, particularly in the area of ​​the receiving space 4, remains constant, making the cooling shell 1 particularly easy and cost-effective to manufacture, for example, by extrusion. In this case, the cooling shell 1 is a single-piece component manufactured from metal using additive manufacturing, specifically selective laser sintering. To ensure a particularly good surface quality in the cooling channels 5 and thus the most friction-free and therefore loss-free coolant flow possible, the cooling channels 5 are post-processed. For this purpose, a liquid carrier medium containing abrasive particles was passed through the cooling channels, reducing surface roughness inside the cooling channels 5. Post-processing by etching or electrical discharge machining (EDM) would also be conceivable.

[0080] The cooling shell 1 can also be assembled from several prefabricated semi-finished products. For example, the tube 41 and the flange 20 can be manufactured separately and joined or connected to each other by pressing, welding, soldering or the like.

[0081] According to the preceding description, the cooling shell 1 includes a flow control device 11 in several cooling channels 5, the operating principle and effect of which can be seen in the simplified sectional view of the Fig. 4 This becomes clear. This shows the cross-sectional view of the Fig. 2 with one of the flow control devices 11 in the form of a Coanda nozzle 27 in one of the cooling channels 5. The Coanda nozzle 27 is designed to effect a temporal change in the coolant flow based on the Coanda effect. Its construction is shown in the schematic diagrams of the Fig. 5 and 6This is shown in more detail below. The Coanda effect causes a flow, in this case the coolant flow, to move not linearly near a curved surface, but along the surface. This results in a change in the flow direction over time. Overall, the Coanda nozzle 27, through its specific geometric design, causes a change in the flow direction of the coolant over time, without requiring any moving, and especially not controlled, components. Fig. 4 The changing flow direction of the coolant, indicated by arrows 28 and 28', is shown by the Coanda nozzle 27. Arrow 28 indicates the flow direction at a first time point, and the dashed arrows 28' at a second time point. The time-changing flow pattern causes the vortex-like coolant flow (indicated by the cone 29) generated by the coiled supply channels 15 in the coolant chamber 24 to move, and in particular precess, on the surface of the head section 13 of the component 2 to be cooled.

[0082] Each of the flow control devices 11 can be integrated into the flange 20 of the cooling jacket 1 or at another location in one of the cooling channels 5. The flow control devices 11 are specifically inserted or mounted in corresponding recesses of the flange 20. If the cooling jacket 1 is additively manufactured as a single component, all flow control devices 11 can be directly integrated into the cooling jacket 1.

[0083] The Figuren 5 and 6 They exemplify the block- and sandwich-like structure of the flow control device 11 of the Fig. 4 in the form of a Coanda nozzle 27, wherein Fig. 5 Figure 11 shows only the lower part of the flow control device 11. The flow control device 11 comprises an oscillation plate 32 with an oscillation channel 31, which is geometrically designed such that the flow direction of the coolant exiting the oscillation channel 31 changes over time. The oscillation channel 32 utilizes the Coanda effect. The flow control device 11 also includes a bypass plate 34 with a bypass channel 33, by means of which a portion of the coolant passing through the flow control device 11 bypasses the oscillation channel 31. Additionally, the flow control device 11 includes a distributor plate 35 with a distributor section 43 for distributing the coolant entering the flow control device 11 via a coolant inlet 30 to the oscillation channel 31 and the bypass channel 33.It is evident that a larger proportion of the coolant entering the flow control device 11 is directed into the bypass channel 33, while only a small proportion, sufficient to generate a time-varying flow pattern, is directed into the oscillation channel 31. This reduces the pressure loss occurring at the flow control device 11 compared to when the entire coolant flow was directed into the oscillation channel 31.

[0084] To at least partially delimit the oscillation channel 31 and the bypass channel 33 laterally, the flow control device 11 also includes a partition plate 44. This plate comprises several openings 36 that connect the oscillation channel 31 and the bypass channel 33 both before and after their respective inlets and outlets. The coolant thus enters the oscillation channel 31 and the bypass channel 33 via the distributor plate 35 through the coolant inlet 30. Within the oscillation channel 31, the flow pattern of the coolant is altered over time, causing the coolant to flow downstream alternately through one of the two openings 36 in the partition plate 44 into the area downstream of the bypass channel 33 and exit the flow control device 11 together with the coolant flow passing through the bypass channel 33. All the panels are arranged on top of each other, forming a compact and simple, sandwich-like or stacked structure.The flow control device 11 is made of metal in this case. In principle, however, it can be made of any material which preferably has high resistance to wear and sufficiently high thermal resistance.

[0085] With regard to the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 1 The flow control devices 11 are provided at the feed interface 18. However, they can, in principle, be provided in the feed channels 15 at any position between the feed interface 18 and the coolant chamber 24, including directly upstream of the coolant chamber 24. It is conceivable that the cooling channel(s) 5 branch(es) downstream of a flow control device 11 into several cooling channels 5, so that the flow direction of the coolant changes over time in several cooling channels 5. In each of the branched cooling channels 5, one or more further flow control devices 11 can be provided, resulting in a chain of several flow control devices 11. At each of the two downstream outlet openings of the Fig. 6 the flow control device 11 shown, which is located in Fig. 6 At the right end of the bypass plate 41, downstream of the passages 36, one or more cooling channels 5 or at least one further flow control device 11 can be connected. For example, if a cooling channel 5 is connected to each of the two downstream outlet openings, the coolant flow can be directed alternately into one of the two cooling channels 5 by means of the flow control device 11.

[0086] By selectively choosing different values ​​for the lengths of the individual cooling channels 5 between the flow control device 11 and the coolant chamber 24, it is possible to adjust the coolant flows in the individual cooling channels 5 so that they exhibit a desired phase shift upon reaching the coolant chamber 24. The resulting coolant flow pattern in the coolant chamber 24 can thus also be controlled by the lengths of the individual cooling channels 5.

[0087] Overall, the cooling shell 1 enables particularly effective and space-saving cooling of the component 2 to be cooled, whereby it can be specifically adjusted to the respective component 2 to be cooled by means of several parameters that can be changed during the manufacturing of the cooling shell 1 in order to achieve the best possible cooling.

[0088] Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a high-performance radiation generation device 37 according to an exemplary embodiment, for example, for the X-ray inspection of containers. It is also conceivable that a comparable radiation generation device 37 could be used for the medical treatment, in particular irradiation, of patients. The radiation generation device 37 comprises an accelerator structure 42 with a high-performance X-ray tube 12 and the cooling jacket 1 of the exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1 The cooling sleeve 1 serves to cool the X-ray tube 12. The cooling sleeve 1 is mounted to a bracket 39 of the accelerator structure 42, which is rigidly connected to the X-ray tube 12, by means of a coupling structure on the flange 20 using several fastening elements 38, in this case screws. In this way, the cooling sleeve 1 can be easily removed for maintenance of the X-ray tube 12, in particular the target 14. In addition, several sealing rings 40 are provided which, in the assembled state, seal the feed interface 18 and the discharge interface 19 between the cooling sleeve 1 and the bracket 39 to the outside.

[0089] As already shown from the Fig. 2 As described, the X-ray tube 12 has a target 14 at its head section 13, onto which an electron beam is directed to generate X-rays. A large amount of heat is released at the head section 13 during this process. In the assembled state, this is also the case in Fig. 7 The head section 13 of the X-ray tube 12 is arranged in the head region of the recording chamber 4 of the cooling shell 1, which forms an axial end of the recording chamber 4. The Fig. 7 The coolant flowing from the supply channels 15 (not shown) into the coolant chamber 24 of the cooling shell 1 (also not shown) is guided along the surface of the head section 13, thus cooling the latter particularly effectively. For this purpose, the supply channels 15 taper at their ends opening into the coolant chamber 24 such that the coolant flowing from the supply channels 15 into the coolant chamber 24 is directed specifically to a section of the coolant chamber 24 in which the head section 13 of the X-ray tube 12 is located. The high-performance X-ray tube 12 can thus be cooled very effectively despite the particularly compact design of the cooling shell 1.

[0090] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identities are included.

Claims

1. Cooling shell (1) for cooling a component (2) of a radiation generating device, wherein the cooling shell (1) has at least one cooling channel (5) for guiding a coolant, wherein at least one flow control device (11) is provided on or in the at least one cooling channel (5) or on or in at least one of the cooling channels (5), by means of which a flow direction of the coolant flowing through the respective cooling channel (5) can be changed over time.

2. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the flow control device (11) or at least one of the flow control devices (11) is or comprises a Coanda nozzle (27).

3. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact thatthe at least one flow control device (11) comprises an oscillation channel (31) which is geometrically designed such that the flow direction of the coolant flowing through the oscillation channel (31) is changed over time, wherein the at least one flow control device (11) comprises a bypass channel (33) by means of which a part of the coolant guided through the flow control device (11) is routed around the oscillation channel (31).

4. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that comprising at least one flow control device (11) comprising an oscillation plate (32) encompassing the oscillation channel (31) and a bypass plate (34) encompassing the bypass channel (33), wherein the oscillation plate (32) and the bypass plate (34) are arranged stacked on top of each other.

5. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 4, characterized by the fact thatthe at least one flow control device (11) has a separating plate (44) arranged between the oscillation plate (32) and the bypass plate (34), wherein the separating plate (44) laterally limits the oscillation channel (31) and / or the bypass channel (33).

6. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by the fact that the at least one flow control device (11) comprises a distributor plate (35) with a distributor section (43) for distributing the coolant flowing into the flow control device (11) into the oscillation channel (31) and the bypass channel (33), wherein the oscillation plate (32) and the bypass plate (34) are arranged on the distributor plate (35).

7. Cooling shell (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the cooling channels (5) branch off downstream into at least two or more cooling channels (5) with the at least one flow control device (11).

8. Cooling shell (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that The cooling shell (1) extends along a longitudinal axis (3) and has inside it a receiving space (4) which is open at least on one side and also extends along the longitudinal axis (3) for receiving the component (2) to be cooled, wherein the cooling shell (1) has several of the cooling channels (5), wherein the cooling channels (5) extend along the longitudinal axis (3) and are arranged radially outside the receiving space (4) and distributed around the receiving space (4).

9. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the cooling channels (5) overlap or are identical with respect to their extent along a distance direction to the receiving space (4).

10. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that the cooling channels (5) extend in a straight line and parallel to the longitudinal axis (3) or, in particular, in a helical shape, wound around the longitudinal axis (3).

11. Cooling shell (1) according to one of claims 8 - 10, characterized by the fact that a radially inwardly projecting wall structure (22) is provided on the radial inside of an outer shell (21) of the cooling shell (1), which forms at least a lateral boundary and / or at least a radially inner boundary of at least one of the cooling channels (5), wherein the outer shell (21) forms a radially outer boundary of the cooling channels (5).

12. Cooling shell (1) according to one of claims 8 - 11, characterized by the fact that at least one supply channel (15) and at least one discharge channel (16) are provided as the cooling channels (5), wherein the coolant can be supplied to the at least one supply channel (15) via a supply interface (18), wherein the at least one discharge channel (16) is arranged downstream of the at least one supply channel (15), wherein the coolant can be discharged from the at least one discharge channel (16) via a discharge interface (19).

13. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the at least one supply channel (15) opens into a coolant chamber (24) which, with respect to the longitudinal axis (3), is arranged at an axial end (17) of the cooling shell (1), in particular opposite the supply interface (18) and the discharge interface (19), wherein the coolant can be discharged from the coolant chamber (24) via the at least one discharge channel (16).

14. Cooling cover (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by the fact that the at least one cooling channel (5) on or in which the at least one flow control device (11) is provided, the at least one supply channel (15) or one of the supply channels (15).

15. Radiation generating device (37) with a component (2) to be cooled and a cooling shell (1), wherein the cooling shell has at least one cooling channel (5) for guiding a coolant, wherein at least one flow control device (11) is provided on or in the at least one cooling channel (5) or on or in at least one of the cooling channels (5), by means of which a flow direction of the coolant flowing through the respective cooling channel (5) can be changed over time.

Images